Files
Abstract
Independent food retailers have been losing sales to food-store chains (firms with 11 or more stores) since the I 920's. Independents' share of industry sales fell an average of 0.6 percent each year between 1930 and 1977, and this decline may continue during the I 980's, although independents will always occupy an important place in the industry. Several factors could affect their ability to compete with chains in the future.